The French authorities are not actively looking for the maths teacher who has
eloped with a 15-year-old pupil.

They have not even undertaken standard credit card or mobile phone searches in an attempt to trace Jeremy Forrest, 30, and Megan Stammers, who were last seen on a ferry to Calais last Thursday.

The case has been further hampered in France by the fact that the age of consent is 15, so their relationship is not against the law.

Jean-Philippe Joubert, state prosecutor for Boulogne-sur-Mer, said: “These people have been put on a missing persons’ list and a European Arrest Warrant has been issued. But there are no dedicated detectives or specific searches going on right now.

“But if the couple are recognised and identified, then they will be arrested.”